A/N: Thank you so much for your heartfelt response to Wandering Hands. I am so overwhelmed from your warm welcome and encouragement. This is for NallyAshlokFan as always, I'm no good without her "pestering."
Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction whose characters and original plots are owned by their respective authors, I wish I was one of them but I'm not. The plot changes belong solely to me, thank you.
Prologue
Stop
TRRING
"Khushi Raizada, speaking."
"Really? And where are Kumari, Gupta and Singh?"
She chuckles, "I'm old now, the name is too long for me to remember and "Khushi Kumari Gu-what's the rest?" doesn't make a great introduction."
"Sarcasm, Ma? You must be pissed. Or missing Dad, which one is it?"
She sighs; he always knows what to say, "I don't know, Aarav. Both, I think."
"Ah! It's one of those days, eh? Did you make tons of Jalebi?"
"Oh no! Not anymore my boy. My body doesn't work at the same pace that it used to. I'm not quick to take up such projects anymore. No matter how much peace of mind they offer, the resulting increase in Cholesterol and other sleuth of medical problems is not worth the peace."
"Hmmm, I know you miss Dad, we all do. Why are you pissed? I thought you liked your new nurse. Should I come and check on you?"
"Maria? Oh, she's fine. Talks a little too much, but she'll do."
"Ma!" He laughs out loud, "You do know that's the exact thing Dad used to say about you, right?"
"Well, I-I never!" Khushi pretends to be indignant.
"Please Ma, you can't even pretend."
"Oh hush now. It's just - there is so much I never said to him in our early days -"
"It's never enough, Ma. I know Diwali's without Dad are hard for you. I wish we could celebrate with you."
"Hey now, don't feel guilty for even a minute. I may be far but I understand your restraints. You need to stay with her now. Give her my love and kiss her little one for me. You're a grandfather now, eh? Nanaji?" Khushi tries and fails to tease as her voice deflates towards the end.
"You sound more morose than yesterday, Ma. What has changed?"
"I think I'm dying Aarav and I couldn't be happier."
"Don't say such things, Ma. You're not going anywhere."
"Why would you keep me away from my Mr. Arnav? I'm more than happy to join him. It's been two very lonely years without him."
"And what will you say to him when you meet him?"
Khushi sighed. "Hmmm, there is so much I wish I would've said to him. So much I should've done."
"What are you talking about? You had your ups and down, Ma. Everyone does. You've always told me that, haven't you?"
"If only I could -
"Could what, Ma? Go back in time and do things differently? Would you do that? Given a chance, would you change anything?" Aarav asks, genuinely curious about his mothers response.
"Yes, no, I don't know. Don't ask me so many things. My brain is fragile now."
"Okay, Ma. You win. No questions. Now, rest up. We're coming to meet you the day after tomorrow. Okay? Give the kids love from me." Aarav says resignedly.
"Of course, betu. Bring gifts -
"And no chocolates. Yes, Ma. I know. You've given me the same set of instructions from past two years. The Orphanage policies haven't changed on the "Chocolate gifting rules" and I'm well aware of it." Khushi swears she can feel his eyes roll.
"Oh don't be a grump, it's not like the little monsters are deprived of chocolates. They just need to earn chocolates as a life lesson. You know how it is!"
"Yes, I know. Okay, Ma, you take care of yourself. And don't worry about the things you couldn't say to Dad. I'm sure he heard it anyway."
Did he? Khushi blessed Aarav in a distracted goodbye. Did Mr. Arnav really know the words she wished she said?
The last entry in the diary of Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada was "If only, I could change it. If only."
What did she want to change so badly? Aarav Raizada wonders.
A/N: I know, I know, I'm terrible. But she's an old woman who's had a fulfilling life and she's lonely and misses her husband. She has to die someday, right? Don't worry, the real story will start in the next chapter.
This is my humble attempt at a Stop, Rewind and Play' of a few scenes that Khushi wished to see/relive from her life that may or may not have changed the course of her life. They can be read as a collection of One-Shots.
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Please find the rest of the chapters in the links mentioned below:
Chapter - 4 Record
Cricket
Ganesh Kartikeya
Shiv Shakti
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